Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Book=PEEL, ALAN RALPH=, Capt., South Wales Borderers (24th Regt.), eldest surviving _s._ of Herbert Peel, of Taliaris Park, co. Carmarthen, J.P., D.L., by his wife, Mary Susannah Ainsworth, dau. of the late Capt. William Lee, R.M.L.I.; _b._ Taliaris Park, 7 July, 1886; educ. Cheltenham College and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the South Wales Borderers, 24 Jan. 1906, became Lieut. 1 Dec. 1907, and Capt., 12 Sept. 1914; served with the 1st Battn. in India, 1907-9, and at Pretoria, 1910; attached to the South African Mounted Infantry, Feb. 1911, and quartered at Harrismith and Bloemfontein to 1912, in which year he was seconded to the West African Frontier Force (Nigerian Regt.). Returning home on furlough in 1914, he was the same year seconded for service with the Nigerian Mounted Infantry, and left again for West Africa in June; he was killed in action, leading a bayonet charge, at Kosseoa, near Marna, North Cameroons, 17 Nov. 1914; _unm._ His Commanding Officer wrote as follows: "I had made application for him to join me, knowing his ability. You have the honour of knowing no soldier could have met a more gallant death, viz., at the head of his men, leading them to the charge and showing an example of great bravery. He was buried with all honours by the Capt. of the French company with whom he was operating at the time." The latter wrote: "I paid the funeral honours ... to the two brave English officers, MM. le Capit. A. R. Peel and Lieut. Percival, who fell on the field of honour while giving to their men an example of great bravery." The Commandant of the Nigerian Regt. wrote as follows: "To lighten your great sorrow you have the honour of knowing that your son died in a manner worthily upholding the finest traditions of the Service, and setting an example of valour to the whole regt., among whom he was so deservedly known as a brave and upright officer and the best of good comrades." Capt. A. R. Peel was a thorough all-round sportsman, a good rider and polo player. [Illustration: =Alan Ralph Peel.=] =PEELING, HARRY COURTLAND=, Officer's Cook, 1st Class, 365838, H.M.S. Hawke, _s._ of Joseph Peeling, of Gardener's Lodge, Wickham Place, near Witham, co. Essex; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914. =PEET, JOHN EDWARD GRIMSTON=, 2nd Lieut., 9th (Service) Battn. The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt., elder _s._ of James Henry Peet, of Perry Hill, Worplesdon, co. Surrey, M.D., by his wife, Winifred, dau. of the late Major Henry Grimston Hale, 11th Hussars; _b._ Huddersfield, co. York, 24 April, 1895; educ. St. George's College, Weybridge, and Douay Abbey, Woolhampton; enlisted in the Berkshire Yeomanry, 25 Sept. 1914; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Royal West Surrey Regt., 9 Feb. 1915 and was accidentally killed in a motor cycle collision at Guildford on the 27th while on service. Lieut.-Col. J. B. Kerslake wrote: "We had great expectations of him, and in no case have I recommended a commission with more confidence. His premature death is a loss not only to his family but to his country. In your great loss we, indeed, sympathise most deeply. Your only consolation can be that he met his death while serving his country, and doing his duty to the fullest." And Brig.-Gen. Andrew L. Macfies, Commanding 1st South Lancashire Brigade: "The class of instruction to which your son belonged is attached to my brigade. He was, therefore, to some extent under my command, and I understand showed every promise of becoming a good officer." [Illustration: =John Edward G. Peet.=] =PELHAM, HENRY ALFRED=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 9409, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =PELHAM, HON. HERBERT LYTTLETON=, Lieut. and Adjutant, 2nd Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., 4th and yst. _s._ of Francis Godolphin, 5th Earl of Chichester, by his wife, Alice, née Carr Glyn (Oldland, Keymer, Sussex), dau. of George Carr, 1st Baron Wolverton; _b._ Lambeth Rectory, London, 3 April, 1884; educ. by the Rev. A. Tabor, Cheam; Charterhouse; and Rev. V. Scott, South Lynn, Eastbourne; joined the Duke of Connaught's Own Hampshire and Isle of Wight Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia), 12 April, 1902; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Royal Sussex Regt., 3 June, 1904; joined the 2nd Battn. at Malta, 5 Aug. 1904; served in Crete during the insurrection and later on the International Tribunal there; and in Belfast 1907 during riots; promoted Lieut. 26 Sept. 1908; passed first "distinction" in musketry and over 95 per cent. in machine gunnery courses at Hythe, 25 Sept. 1909; appointed Adjutant 18 Dec. 1911; took Brevet Certificate, and was accepted for Royal Flying Corps, 9 April, 1914; specially commended for work of mobilisation, Aug. 1914; left for France as Senior Lieut. and Adjutant, 2nd Battn., with 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, 12 Aug. 1914, became acting Capt. after the death of Capt. Jemmet Browne, 12 Sept., and was killed in action 14 Sept. following, during the Battle of the Aisne; _unm._ The 2nd Royal Sussex were in reserve at Mons, and formed part of the rearguard during the retirement from that place, and then became the vanguard of the 1st Army, when the Germans turned, before the Battle of the Marne. Major-Gen. E. H. Bulfin wrote: "I ordered the Sussex to pass on and seize the ridges north of the village of Priez.... 10 Sept., for the good work done that day I sent in Pelham's name for recognition. 14 Sept. Pelham with a handful of men of the Sussex held on to the Chemin des Dames, and it was here that he lost his life, working the machine guns, and he died one of the most brave and gallant gentleman it has ever been my honour to know. A fine capable officer who put his duty before everything, and by his self-sacrificing devotion set a splendid example to us all. By his death the Regt. has suffered a terrible loss and the Army has lost a most capable officer, who would have gone far in his profession." His commanding officer. Major E. V. B. Green, wrote: "Your son died a soldier's death in the forefront of the fighting on the 14th. I have sent you in a separate package a testament which was found on him, and I am sorry that there is nothing more to send. We have lost a much-loved comrade who we all felt had a promising career before him, in fact, perhaps I cannot do better than quote to you the words in which his name has gone forward for mention in despatches. 'Lieut. and Adjutant the Hon. H. L. Pelham. I saw this officer two or three times under heavy fire conveying orders and encouraging the troops. He was killed in an advanced position, assisting with the machine guns, several of the detachment having been knocked out. In him the Army have lost a most promising officer. His work during mobilisation and during the campaign has been deserving of the highest praise.'" and again later: "I wish I could give you further details regarding your son, but the circumstances of the battle on the 14th, the first day of the Aisne, were such that we were not able |